Irish Champion Stakes

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Group 1 race
Irish Champion Stakes
Location Leopardstown
Co. Dublin, Ireland
Inaugurated 1976
Race type Flat / Thoroughbred
Sponsor Red Mills
Website Leopardstown
Race information
Distance 1m 2f (2,012 metres)
Surface Turf
Track Left-handed
Qualification Three-years-old and up
Weight 9 st 0 lb (3yo);
9 st 7 lb (4yo+)
Allowances
3 lb for fillies and mares
Purse €750,000 (2011)
1st: €434,500

The Irish Champion Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to horsess aged three years or older. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs (2,012 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.

History

The event was established in 1976, and it was initially held at Leopardstown as the Joe McGrath Memorial Stakes. It was named in memory of Joe McGrath (1887–1966), the founder of the Irish Hospitals' Sweepstake and a successful racehorse owner.

The race was transferred to Phoenix Park and renamed the Phoenix Champion Stakes in 1984. Its present title was introduced in 1991, when the event returned to Leopardstown after the closure of its former venue.

The Irish Champion Stakes became part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge series in 2009. The winner now earns an automatic invitation to compete in the same year's Breeders' Cup Turf.[1]

Records

Most successful horse (2 wins):

Leading jockey (7 wins):

  • Michael Kinane – Carroll House (1989), Cezanne (1994), Pilsudski (1997), Giant's Causeway (2000), High Chaparral (2003), Azamour (2004), Sea the Stars (2009)

Leading trainer (7 wins):

  • Aidan O'Brien – Giant's Causeway (2000), High Chaparral (2003), Oratorio (2005), Dylan Thomas (2006, 2007), Cape Blanco (2010), So You Think (2011)

Leading owner (7 wins): (includes part ownership)

  • Sue Magnier / Michael Tabor – Giant's Causeway (2000), High Chaparral (2003), Oratorio (2005), Dylan Thomas (2006, 2007), Cape Blanco (2010), So You Think (2011)

Winners

Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Time
1976 Malacate 3 Lester Piggott François Boutin María Félix Berger 2:07.60
1977 North Stoke 3 Ron Hutchinson John Dunlop Mrs M. Lequime 2:09.20
1978 Inkerman 3 Lester Piggott Vincent O'Brien Simon Fraser 2:05.20
1979 Fordham 4 Tommy Carberry Vincent O'Brien Robert Sangster 2:07.00
1980 Gregorian 4 George McGrath Vincent O'Brien Danny Schwartz 2:07.80
1981 Kings Lake 3 Pat Eddery Vincent O'Brien Mrs Jean-Pierre Binet 2:06.30
1982 Assert 3 Christy Roche David O'Brien Robert Sangster 2:06.30
1983 Stanerra 5 Brian Rouse Frank Dunne Frank Dunne 2:09.50
1984 Sadler's Wells 3 Pat Eddery Vincent O'Brien Robert Sangster 2:00.90
1985 Commanche Run 4 Lester Piggott Luca Cumani Ivan Allan 2:09.20
1986 Park Express 3 John Reid Jim Bolger Paddy Burns 2:02.50
1987 Triptych 5 Tony Cruz Patrick Biancone Alan Clore 2:06.70
1988 Indian Skimmer 4 Michael Roberts Henry Cecil Sheikh Mohammed 2:06.50
1989 Carroll House 4 Michael Kinane Michael Jarvis Antonio Balzarini 2:04.00
1990 Elmaamul 3 Willie Carson Dick Hern Hamdan Al Maktoum 2:02.90
1991 Suave Dancer 3 Cash Asmussen John Hammond Henri Chalhoub 2:06.80
1992 Dr Devious 3 John Reid Peter Chapple-Hyam Sidney Craig 2:10.00
1993 Muhtarram 4 Willie Carson John Gosden Hamdan Al Maktoum 2:06.10
1994 Cézanne 5 Michael Kinane Michael Stoute Godolphin 2:07.90
1995 Pentire 3 Michael Hills Geoff Wragg Mollers Racing 2:04.40
1996 Timarida 4 Johnny Murtagh John Oxx HH Aga Khan IV 2:06.20
1997 Pilsudski 5 Michael Kinane Michael Stoute Lord Weinstock 2:04.70
1998 Swain 6 Frankie Dettori Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin 2:10.20
1999 Daylami 5 Frankie Dettori Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin 2:08.40
2000 Giant's Causeway 3 Michael Kinane Aidan O'Brien Magnier / Tabor 2:03.10
2001 Fantastic Light 5 Frankie Dettori Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin 2:01.80
2002 Grandera 4 Frankie Dettori Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin 2:04.70
2003 High Chaparral 4 Michael Kinane Aidan O'Brien Tabor / Magnier 2:03.30
2004 Azamour 3 Michael Kinane John Oxx HH Aga Khan IV 2:01.90
2005 Oratorio 3 Kieren Fallon Aidan O'Brien Magnier / Tabor 2:03.90
2006 Dylan Thomas 3 Kieren Fallon Aidan O'Brien Magnier / Tabor 2:02.90
2007 Dylan Thomas 4 Kieren Fallon Aidan O'Brien Magnier / Tabor 2:02.27
2008 New Approach 3 Kevin Manning Jim Bolger Princess Haya of Jordan 2:07.57
2009 Sea the Stars 3 Michael Kinane John Oxx Christopher Tsui 2:03.90
2010 Cape Blanco 3 Seamie Heffernan Aidan O'Brien Smith / Magnier / Tabor 2:03:89
2011 So You Think 5 Seamie Heffernan Aidan O'Brien Derrick Smith et al. 2:04.20
2012 Snow Fairy 5 Frankie Dettori Ed Dunlop Anamoine Limited 2:00.92
2013 The Fugue 4 William Buick John Gosden Andrew Lloyd Webber 2:05.22

See also

  • List of Irish flat horse races
  • Recurring sporting events established in 1976 – this race is included under its original title, Joe McGrath Memorial Stakes.

References

  1. ↑ "2011 Breeders' Cup Challenge Schedule". breederscup.com. Retrieved 12 February 2012. 


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